The Feast of St Peter Claver SJ | Friday 9 September 2022

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Today is Friday the 9th of September, the feast of St Peter Claver SJ in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time.

Maximilian sings, ‘Faithful Champion’.

Even when I fall asleep

Even when I forget Your face

Even when I lose myself

Your love sustains me

You could've told another story

Found another more worthy

But You breathe

Your life in me

Followed by Your mercy

I've been chosen for Your glory

God, you are faithful, unwavering

You won't miss a thing

You will finish what you started

Your's are not just empty words

You're more, You're more than I deserve

You're more, You're more than I deservе

I will keep Your face before mе

Rest upon the cornerstone

I'll trust, I'll trust in You alone

I'll trust, I'll trust in You alone

Jesus, champion of my soul

Today’s reading is from St Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-27

If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe betide me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable garland, but we an imperishable one. So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.

Paul uses language that may seem strange to us in this letter. Perhaps it was the kind of language the Corinthians understood, but what does his talk of obligations and rights and slavery and freedom do to you? How do you react to it?

Paul also uses the image of an athlete – disciplined and determined, completely focused and given to the task of winning the race. Do you see yourself like that in any way? What is the race for you? What is the prize for you?

As you hear the reading again, imagine it as a personal letter from Paul to you. What could Paul be saying to you?

In the closing moments of this prayer time, speak to God about your reaction to Paul’s words. Perhaps you have reacted negatively to some things, or been puzzled, or perhaps you feel there is an invitation here to make some change in your life. Speak to God openly, as one friend speaks to another.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit

as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.